嚢中の錐

From 嚢 (nō, “bag”) + 中 (chū, “inside”) + 錐 (kiri, “awl”). Derived from the phrase in Shiji: "夫賢士之処世也、譬若錐之処嚢中、其末立見" (“When a wise man is in the world, he is like an awl in a bag, its tip will protrude”).

• (Tokyo) のーちゅうのきり [nòóchúúnókírí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [no̞ːt͡ɕɨːno̞kʲiɾʲi]

嚢(のう)中(ちゅう)の錐(きり) • (nōchūnokiri) 

1. A metaphor that talent or virtue will naturally come to light, even without deliberate effort to showcase it.

• 毛遂自薦 (mōsui jisen, “self-recommendation”)